Deception: Passing on the Side

Creating deception, faking, or selling are words that we hear more and more in today's game. Deception is a huge part of any aspect of the game, and creating deception is more than a tool; it's an art that everyone must work in, days in and days out.

We'll look at one type of passing in this blog where you are loading the puck on the side. This technique involves bringing the puck closer to your skates and making your pass from there. Creating this deception opens up a lot of options.

 

 

We see that type of pass everywhere, and it can be on the breakout, transition from D to D, or on a 2v1 rush. Try to pay attention next time you are watching a game and try to count how many times you saw it.

   

Five key points when teaching this technique are:
 

1.        Eyes up to start building the deception against the opponent.

2.       The top hand in front.

3.       Bottom hand on your hips.

4.       Shoulders in front.

5.       Tape to tape pass.

  

Below, I’ve outlined a five-drill progression that you can use to help your players work on the passing on the side. All drills can be found in the CoachThem Marketplace so you can easily add them to your personal playbook.

 

NEW: Click on video icon in the rink for the Drill video!

The below Practice Plan can be found in our Marketplace under Punch Turn.

 

1. Passing On The Side - Activation Passing - Fast Load
 

 

• Players are side to side.
• Try to have a lefty on the right side and a righty on the left side if possible.
• Receive on your backhand.
• Work on loading and passing with the puck on the side of the body. 

  

 

2. Passing On The Side -  Activation Fast Load Movement
 

 

• Players are side to side. Lefty on the right side and righty on the left side if possible
• In movement, the players receive the pass on their backhand.
• Work on loading and passing with the puck on the side of the body. 

 

 

 

3. Passing On The Side -  4 Pylons
 

 

• Player 1 is outside the circle.
• Player 2 is inside the circle.
• Player 1 receives it on his backhand and gives it back on his forehand with loading and passing with the puck on the side of the body.
• He has to create a passing lane with his skate that is equal to the pylon.

 

 

4. Passing On The Side -  Breakout 1 VS 1
 

 

• D goes to recover the puck.
• D surround the puck and make a pass on the side. After the pass, the forward goes around the pylon and attacks the net for a 1 vs 1. 
• If you want, you can have no position for these drills, meaning having an F instead of a D.

 

5. Passing On The Side -  OZP
 

 

• Players on board are off wing.
• Enter the zone and make a pass with a fast load before the pylons.
• We work on the ability to load fast with the puck on the side.
• The player who shot has to do a catch and release.

 

Blog by CoachThem Contributor, Mitch Giguere

Mitch Giguere, ChPC, an assistant coach with the Wheeling Nailers in the ECHL, affiliated with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Mitch has his High Performance 2 from Hockey Canada, Advanced Coaching Diploma from the Canadian Sport Institute and is finishing his Learning Accelerator at the Canadian Sport Institute. You can follow his popular video breakdown on Social Media for more excellent hockey content.

 

 

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